Planting Hope: Sustaining Indigenous Knowledge of Plants of the Colorado Plateau

Abstract

For this curriculum, students use collaboration to engage with materials including but
not limited to, plant identification keys, specific websites which will include information
and facts about the plants in the western world, botanical databases such as SEINet
(The Arizona – New Mexico Chapter). Student-centered learning is at the heart of this
project where students are allowed to investigate and gain knowledge and skills for
topics that are challenging. The reliability of resources students use in their research will
be evaluated. Another component requires students to seek out knowledge keepers, to
collect consent from the keepers to collect and use information on the plant species during discussions/interviews. Students will be provided with reference reading materials, as well as some knowledge found through plant walks, visits to gardens and talking with community members. Students will be required to use APA style citations.